Side Sill Rotation Prevention Device for Vehicle

This application claims, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0167967, filed on Nov. 22, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a side sill rotation prevention device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a side sill rotation prevention device configured to prevent rotation of a side sill and securing vehicle safety in the event of vehicle side collision.

A vehicle may include a side sill and a side sill reinforcement member that are provided on the lower end side of a vehicle body. The side sill and the side sill reinforcement member may improve collision performance in the event of vehicle side collision and secure a passenger survival space in the vehicle interior. In some cases, the side sill and the side sill reinforcement member may help prevent vehicle fire by protecting a battery in the event of vehicle side collision.

In order to secure collision performance of the vehicle, the side sill and the side sill reinforcement member may have a structure derived through analysis, evaluation, and verification of the cross-sectional shape, size, and location thereof.

In some cases, electric vehicles may have a battery-mounted structure including a cell array and a supporting element. In some cases, electric vehicles may have a structure in which a vehicle body and a battery are integrated with each other.

When excessive rotation of the side sill occurs due to side collision of an electric vehicle, a battery module inside a battery case may be damaged due to rotation of the side wall of the battery case. In addition, when the side sill is excessively rotated, a vehicle body pillar may be excessively deformed, which may cause a negative effect on securing the passenger survival space inside the vehicle. Research and development have been conducted to reduce and prevent rotation of the side sill.

The present disclosure describes a side sill rotation prevention device for a vehicle, configured to improve collision performance and safety of the vehicle by reducing rotation of a side sill in the event of vehicle side collision.

According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this application, a side sill rotation prevention device for a vehicle includes a seat cross bar, a side sill inner panel disposed at a longitudinal side of the seat cross bar, and a plurality of extension brackets that connect the side sill inner panel to the seat cross bar. The plurality of extension brackets include an extension lower bracket that connects the side sill inner panel to the seat cross bar, and an extension upper bracket connected to the extension lower bracket and configured to suppress rotation of the side sill inner panel.

Implementations according to this aspect can include one or more of the following features. For example, the extension lower bracket can include a lower bracket body coupled to the seat cross bar, and a first lower flange disposed at an edge of the lower bracket body and coupled to the side sill inner panel. In some examples, the extension upper bracket can include a first upper flange coupled to the side sill inner panel and the extension lower bracket.

In some implementations, the first upper flange can be coupled to an upper wall part of the side sill inner panel, and the extension upper bracket can include an upper bracket body extending from the first upper flange, where the upper bracket body is disposed along a straight line with the upper wall part of the side sill inner panel.

In some implementations, the first lower flange can be disposed between the first upper flange and the side sill inner panel. In some examples, the lower bracket body can include a first lower mounting part disposed on the seat cross bar, the first lower mounting part defining a plurality of first coupling holes, a second lower mounting part that is disposed on the seat cross bar and extends from the first lower mounting part toward the first lower flange, the second lower mounting part defining a plurality of second coupling holes, and a lower inclined part that obliquely extends from the second lower mounting part toward the first lower flange.

In some examples, the extension upper bracket can include a second upper flange coupled to the first lower mounting part, the second upper flange defining a plurality of upper coupling holes, and an upper inclined part that obliquely extends from the upper bracket body toward the second upper flange.

In some implementations, the upper bracket body can be disposed above the lower bracket body and define a plurality of screw passing holes, where each of the plurality of screw passing holes is defined along a line passing through a corresponding one of the plurality of second coupling holes.

In some implementations, the extension lower bracket can include a pair of lower bracket side walls that are bent and extend from the lower bracket body, and the extension upper bracket can include a pair of upper bracket side walls that are bent and extend from the upper bracket body, where the pair of upper bracket side walls are respectively coupled to the pair of lower bracket side walls.

In some examples, the pair of upper bracket side walls include a first upper bracket side wall and a second upper bracket side wall, and the extension upper bracket further can include (i) a third upper flange that is bent and extends from the first upper bracket side wall and (ii) a fourth upper flange that is bent and extends from the second upper bracket side wall. The third upper flange and the fourth upper flange can be coupled to a side wall part of the side sill inner panel.

In some implementations, the pair of lower bracket side walls include a first lower bracket side wall and a second lower bracket side wall, and the extension lower bracket further can include (i) a second lower flange that is bent and extends from the first lower bracket side wall and (ii) a third lower flange that is bent and extends from the second lower bracket side wall. The second lower flange and the third lower flange can be coupled to a side wall part of the side sill inner panel.

In some implementations, the side sill rotation prevention device can further include a side sill reinforcement member disposed at the side sill inner panel, where the seat cross bar is disposed along a horizontal line passing through the side sill reinforcement member.

In some implementations, the first upper flange can be coupled to the side sill inner panel and the first lower flange through welding, where the lower bracket body is coupled to the seat cross bar through bolting.

In some implementations, the side sill inner panel can include a lower wall part configured to be coupled to a side member of a battery case, where the battery case can include a lower case that includes the side member, and an upper case coupled to the seat cross bar, the upper case being disposed above and coupled to an upper end of the lower case. In some examples, the seat cross bar can include a cross member body configured to be disposed between the upper case of the battery case and the extension lower bracket, the cross member body being coupled to the extension lower bracket, and a joining flange that extends from a lower end of the cross member body, the joining flange being configured to be disposed on and coupled to the upper case of the battery case.

In some examples, the seat cross bar can include a bar disposed below a seat of the vehicle.

It is understood that the terms “vehicle,” “vehicular,” and other similar terms as used herein are inclusive of motor vehicles in general, such as passenger automobiles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example, vehicles powered by both gasoline and electricity.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Hereinafter, reference will be made in detail to various implementations of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. Further, the matters represented in the accompanying drawings are schematically illustrated in order to easily explain the implementations of the present disclosure, and can be different from actually implemented forms.

1 FIG. 1 2 1 3 1 2 In some implementations, as shown in, a side sill rotation prevention device for a vehicle can include a pair of side sill inner panels, a plurality of seat cross barsdisposed between the pair of side sill inner panels, and a plurality of extension bracketsconfigured to connect the side sill inner panelsto the seat cross bars.

1 1 The side sill inner panelsare components each configured to secure side collision performance of a vehicle body and are respectively disposed at the lower left end and the lower right end of the vehicle body. Each of the side sill inner panelscan extend in the forward-and-rearward direction of the vehicle.

2 1 41 2 1 2 2 41 41 8 FIG. The seat cross barsare disposed between the pair of side sill inner panelsand are disposed below a seat(see) configured for a user to sit thereon. Each of the seat cross barsis formed to extend in the left-and-right direction. The side sill inner panelsare respectively disposed on opposite sides (that is, the left side and the right side) of the seat cross barsin the longitudinal direction. For example, the seat cross barcan include a bar that is disposed below the seatof the vehicle and extend horizontally across the seat.

2 1 2 1 3 2 1 3 a a b b. In some implementations, all of the plurality of seat cross barscan have first ends and second ends connected to the pair of side sill inner panels. The first end of the seat cross baris connected to a first side sill inner panelvia a first extension bracket, and the second end of the seat cross baris connected to a second side sill inner panelvia a second extension bracket

2 1 3 2 1 3 3 3 a a b b a b In some examples, a structural configuration in which the first end of the seat cross baris connected to the first side sill inner panelvia the first extension bracketis substantially equal to a structural configuration in which the second end of the seat cross baris connected to the second side sill inner panelvia the second extension bracket. In addition, the first extension bracketand the second extension bracketcan be configured to have the same structure.

2 1 3 3 a b. Therefore, in the present specification, a description will be given as to a connection structure between the seat cross barand the side sill inner panelusing any one of the first extension bracketor the second extension bracket

2 3 FIGS.and 4 5 FIGS.and 2 1 3 3 31 32 31 32 In some implementations, as shown in, the seat cross barand the side sill inner panelare connected to each other via the extension bracket. As shown in, the extension bracketcan include an extension lower bracketand an extension upper bracket. The extension lower bracketand the extension upper bracketcan be molded by a press method using steel having a grade of 60K or higher.

5 52 2 52 6 FIG. In some examples, in the case of a vehicle in which the upper portion of a battery case(that is, an upper case) serves as the floor panel of the vehicle body (that is, a vehicle in which a battery and a vehicle body are formed to be integrated with each other), as shown in, the lower portion of the seat cross baris joined to the upper caseby welding.

2 3 2 2 52 2 52 2 3 3 2 In some implementations, the seat cross barapplied to a vehicle in which a battery and a vehicle body are formed to be integrated with each other may not be connected to the extension bracketby welding. The reason for this is that a welding gun may not enter the lower portion of the seat cross bar. When the seat cross baris joined to the upper case, the seat cross barand the upper caseform a closed cross section. Therefore, it is impossible to join the seat cross barto the extension bracketby spot welding. In some examples, the extension bracketis joined to the seat cross barby bolting.

31 1 2 31 2 31 2 1 31 1 2 In some implementations, the extension lower bracketcan be configured to physically connect the side sill inner panelto the seat cross bar. The extension lower bracketis connected to the seat cross barthrough bolting. In more detail, the extension lower bracketconnects the lateral end of the seat cross barto the side sill inner panelthrough welding and bolting. That is, the extension lower bracketis connected to the side sill inner panelthrough welding and is connected to the lateral end of the seat cross barthrough bolting.

31 311 312 313 314 315 316 In some examples, the extension lower bracketcan include a lower bracket body, a pair of lower bracket side wallsand, and a plurality of lower flanges,, and.

311 2 311 2 311 3111 3113 For example, the lower bracket bodycan have a flat plate structure and be stacked on and joined to the upper portion of the seat cross bar. The lower bracket bodycan be joined to the seat cross barthrough bolting using bolts and nuts. In some examples, the lower bracket bodyincludes a first lower mounting partand a second lower mounting part.

3111 3112 3113 3114 3112 3114 3112 3114 3113 3111 314 The first lower mounting partcan define a plurality of first coupling holes, and the second lower mounting partcan define a plurality of second coupling holes. The first coupling holesare spaced apart from each other in the forward-and-rearward direction, and the second coupling holesare also spaced apart from each other in the forward-and-rearward direction. Bolts are respectively inserted through the first coupling holesand the second coupling holesfor an assembly process. The second lower mounting partis located between the first lower mounting partand the first lower flange.

311 3113 3111 2 The lower bracket bodyis provided with the second lower mounting partand the first lower mounting part, thereby achieving more stable coupling with the seat cross bar.

312 313 311 312 311 313 311 311 312 313 In some implementations, the pair of lower bracket side wallsandcan be bent and extend from the lower bracket body. The first lower bracket side wallcan be bent and extend rearwards from the rear edge of the lower bracket body, and the second lower bracket side wallcan be bent and extend rearwards from the front edge of the lower bracket body. In some cases, an angle formed between the lower bracket bodyand the lower bracket side wallsandcan be an obtuse angle.

314 3111 3113 314 311 11 1 The first lower flangeis disposed on the opposite side of the first lower mounting partwith the second lower mounting partinterposed therebetween. The first lower flangeis provided on the right edge of the lower bracket bodyand is joined to an upper wall partof the side sill inner panel.

3 FIG. 2 11 1 311 3115 3113 314 As shown in, there is a height difference between the upper portion of the seat cross barand the upper wall partof the side sill inner panelin the vertical direction. Accordingly, the lower bracket bodyincludes a lower inclined partformed to extend upwards between the second lower mounting partand the first lower flange.

315 312 316 313 315 312 316 313 312 313 In some implementations, the second lower flangecan be bent and extend from the first lower bracket side wall, and the third lower flangecan be bent and extend from the second lower bracket side wall. More specifically, the second lower flangecan be bent and extend rearwards from the right edge of the first lower bracket side wall. The third lower flangecan be bent and extend forwards from the right edge of the second lower bracket side wall. In some examples, the right edges of the first lower bracket side walland the second lower bracket side wallare edges facing the outside of the vehicle.

315 316 3115 314 315 316 13 1 The second lower flangeand the third lower flangecan extend to the edge of the lower inclined partand the edge of the first lower flange. The second lower flangeand the third lower flangeare joined and fixed to a side wall partof the side sill inner panelby welding.

1 1 11 12 13 11 12 13 11 12 11 12 The side sill inner panelis formed to have a curved structure so as to have a rectangular cross section having one open side. The side sill inner panelincludes the upper wall partand a lower wall part, and a side wall partextending between the upper wall partand the lower wall part. The side wall partextends downwards from one end of the upper wall partand extends to one end of the lower wall part. In some examples, one end of the upper wall partand one end of the lower wall partare ends facing the interior of the vehicle.

2 5 FIGS.to 32 31 1 1 32 1 As shown in, the extension upper bracketis connected to the extension lower bracketby welding and supports the side sill inner panelin the event of vehicle side collision, thereby reducing or preventing rotation of the side sill inner panel. The extension upper bracketprevents the side sill inner panelfrom being pushed and rotated by collision energy applied to the vehicle body in the lateral direction in the event of vehicle side collision.

32 31 1 The extension upper bracketis joined to the extension lower bracketand the side sill inner panelby spot welding.

32 321 322 323 324 326 327 328 Specifically, the extension upper bracketincludes an upper bracket body, a pair of upper bracket side wallsand, and a plurality of upper flanges,,, and.

321 31 1 324 324 11 1 321 324 321 324 11 1 The upper bracket bodyis connected to the extension lower bracketand the side sill inner panelthrough the first upper flange. The first upper flangeis stacked on and welded to the upper wall partof the side sill inner panel, and the upper bracket bodyextends laterally from the first upper flange. In this case, the upper bracket bodycan extend horizontally with the first upper flangeand is located in a straight line with the upper wall partof the side sill inner panel.

321 11 1 32 1 Since the upper bracket bodyis located in the straight line with the upper wall partof the side sill inner panel, the extension upper bracketcan effectively prevent rotation of the side sill inner panelin the event of vehicle side collision.

32 14 1 1 11 12 13 14 1 15 15 1 14 1 15 14 3 FIG. In some examples, the extension upper bracketcan also prevent rotation of a side sill reinforcement memberdisposed in the inner space of the side sill inner panel. The inner space of the side sill inner panelis a space surrounded by the upper wall part, the lower wall part, and the side wall part. As shown in, the side sill reinforcement memberis mounted and disposed in the inner space of the side sill inner panelthrough a mounting bracket. The mounting bracketis joined and fixed to the side sill inner panelby welding. The side sill reinforcement memberis supported in a state of being inserted into and disposed in the inner space of the side sill inner panelby the mounting bracket. The side sill reinforcement membercan be made of aluminum.

321 11 1 311 In addition, the upper bracket bodyis located on the same line as the upper wall partof the side sill inner paneland is located above the lower bracket bodywith a predetermined distance therebetween.

8 FIG. 321 3213 4 321 3213 321 4 4 Additionally, referring to, the upper bracket bodyhas a seat mounting holethrough which a seat legis mounted. That is, the upper bracket bodyincludes the seat mounting holeconfigured to couple the upper bracket bodyto the seat leg. The seat legcan be an outer leg provided on a seat in the first row (that is, a front seat) of a vehicle.

322 323 321 322 321 323 321 322 323 312 313 In some implementations, the pair of upper bracket side wallsandcan be bent and extend from the upper bracket body. The first upper bracket side wallcan be bent and extend downwards from the rear edge of the upper bracket body, and the second upper bracket side wallcan be bent and extend downwards from the front edge of the upper bracket body. The first upper bracket side walland the second upper bracket side wallare respectively joined to the first lower bracket side walland the second lower bracket side wallby spot welding.

321 3211 3211 321 326 326 3211 326 324 321 326 3111 In some examples, the upper bracket bodyhas an upper inclined partprovided at one edge thereof and formed to obliquely extend downwards. The upper inclined partextends between the upper bracket bodyand the second upper flange. The second upper flangeis bent from the lower end of the upper inclined partand extends in the lateral direction. The second upper flangeis disposed on the opposite side of the first upper flangewith the upper bracket bodyinterposed therebetween. The second upper flangeis joined to the first lower mounting partby welding.

326 322 323 322 323 321 326 322 323 In some implementations, the second upper flangecan be disposed and extend between the first end of the first upper bracket side walland the first end of the second upper bracket side wall. In some examples, the first end of the first upper bracket side walland the first end of the second upper bracket side wallare portions extending farther toward the vehicle center than the upper bracket body. More specifically, the second upper flangeextends from the upper edge of the first upper bracket side wallto the upper edge of the second upper bracket side wall.

327 322 328 323 327 328 13 1 In some examples, the third upper flangecan be bent and extend rearwards from the second end of the first upper bracket side wall. The fourth upper flangecan be bent and extend forwards from the second end of the second upper bracket side wall. The third upper flangeand the fourth upper flangeare joined to the side wall partof the side sill inner panelby welding.

327 13 1 315 328 13 1 316 In some examples, the third upper flangeis joined to the side wall partof the side sill inner panelwith the second lower flangeinterposed therebetween, and the fourth upper flangeis joined to the side wall partof the side sill inner panelwith the third lower flangeinterposed therebetween.

324 11 1 314 314 324 11 In some examples, the first upper flangeis stacked on and joined to the upper wall partof the side sill inner panelwith the first lower flangeinterposed therebetween. In other words, the first lower flangeis disposed and joined between the first upper flangeand the upper wall part.

6 FIG. 2 31 32 31 11 13 1 3111 326 2 3113 2 321 As shown in, the seat cross baris stacked and disposed on the lower side of the extension lower bracketafter the extension upper bracketand the extension lower bracketare joined to the upper wall partand the side wall partof the side sill inner panelthrough spot welding. In some examples, the first lower mounting partis stacked and disposed between the second upper flangeand the seat cross bar. In addition, the second lower mounting partis stacked and disposed on the upper side of the seat cross barfrom the lower side of the upper bracket body.

3111 2 325 326 3111 2 326 2 325 Accordingly, in order to bolt the first lower mounting partto the seat cross bar, a plurality of upper coupling holesis provided in the second upper flange. When the first lower mounting partis bolted to the seat cross bar, the second upper flangeis bolted and connected to the seat cross barthrough the upper coupling hole.

3113 2 321 3212 3113 3212 3114 3113 3212 3114 3113 3212 In addition, in order to bolt the second lower mounting partto the seat cross bar, the upper bracket bodyhas a plurality of screw passing holesformed therein. In order to bolt the second lower mounting partthereto, the screw passing holesare located above the second coupling holesformed in the second lower mounting part. That is, the screw passing holesare located on the same vertical line as the second coupling holes. The bolting operation of the second lower mounting partis performed through the screw passing holes.

3 FIG. 14 2 14 2 14 14 14 Further, as shown in, in order to improve reinforcement efficiency of the side sill reinforcement member, the seat cross baris disposed on the same line as the side sill reinforcement member. Specifically, the seat cross baris disposed on the same horizontal line as the upper portion of the side sill reinforcement member. Accordingly, reinforcement efficiency of the side sill reinforcement memberis increased, and the cross-sectional area of the side sill reinforcement membercan be reduced and as such, the weight thereof can be reduced.

6 FIG. 2 3 5 3 2 21 52 5 21 2 Additionally, as shown in, the seat cross baris stacked on the lower side of the extension bracketin a state of being joined to the battery caseand is combined with the extension bracket. The seat cross barhas a joining flangejoined to the upper caseof the battery casethrough spot welding. The joining flangeis provided on the lower portion of the seat cross bar.

2 22 21 22 52 31 52 22 31 Specifically, the seat cross baris configured to include a cross member bodyand the joining flange. The cross member bodyis stacked on the upper end of the upper caseand is disposed between the extension lower bracketand the upper case. The cross member bodyis bolted to the extension lower bracket.

21 22 52 21 22 22 21 22 The joining flangeextends from the lower end of the cross member bodyand is stacked on and joined to the upper end of the upper case. The joining flangeis bent from the lower end of the cross member bodyand extends to the outside of the cross member body. The joining flangeis provided at the front lower end and the rear lower end of the cross member body, respectively.

7 FIG. 5 12 1 5 51 52 As shown in, the battery caseis also joined to the lower wall partof the side sill inner panel. The battery caseincludes a lower caseand the upper case.

51 53 511 12 1 511 51 1 511 51 1 511 12 1 512 511 12 511 3 FIG. The lower casehas an internal space formed for a battery moduleto be stored therein, and has a side memberbolted to the lower wall partof the side sill inner panel. The side memberprotrudes from the side wall of the lower caseand extends toward the side sill inner panel. For example, the side membercan include a block protrudes from the side wall of the lower caseand extends toward the side sill inner panel. The side memberis stacked and disposed below the lower wall partof the side sill inner panel. As shown in, a sealing foamfor watertightness is provided between the side memberand the lower wall parton the upper portion of the side member.

52 51 51 52 2 The upper caseis configured to open and close the upper end of the lower caseand is stacked on and joined to the upper end of the lower case. The upper caseis joined to and stacked on the lower portion of the seat cross barand serves as a floor panel of the vehicle body. Therefore, the vehicle may not include a separate floor panel, and, as such, weight reduction can be possible.

14 1 In some examples, a side sill outer panel can cover the side sill reinforcement member, where the side sill outer panel is joined and fixed to the side sill inner panel.

14 51 1 32 1 1 51 53 1 The side sill rotation prevention device of the present disclosure configured as described above primarily absorbs collision energy generated when the side sill reinforcement memberis deformed in the event of vehicle side collision, and secondarily absorbs collision energy generated when the side wall of the lower caseis deformed. Next, when the side sill inner panelis deformed and begins to be rotated toward the vehicle interior, the extension upper bracketsupports the side sill inner paneland suppresses rotation of the side sill inner panel, thereby preventing further deformation and rotation of the lower case. Therefore, it is possible not only to prevent damage to the battery moduleand intrusion of the side sill inner panelinto the vehicle interior, but also to secure a passenger survival space in the vehicle interior.

As is apparent from the above description, the present disclosure provides the following effects.

First, since an extension bracket connects a side sill inner panel to a seat cross bar through a double structure including an extension lower bracket and an extension upper bracket, thereby having an effect of reducing rotation of the side sill inner panel and a side sill reinforcement member and preventing excessive rotation of the side sill inner panel and the side sill reinforcement member in the event of vehicle side collision.

Second, in the event of vehicle side collision, it is possible not only to prevent damage to a battery module due to excessive rotation of the side sill inner panel, but also to secure a passenger survival space in the vehicle interior.

Third, since the side wall of the extension upper bracket and the side wall of the extension lower bracket are joined to each other, collision rigidity of the extension bracket is increased.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the implementations.

The implementations of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, and the terms or words used in this specification and claims shall not be construed as being limited to typical or dictionary meanings. In addition, since the implementations described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only implementations of the present disclosure, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described implementations. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present disclosure defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.